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Swampfest

Swampfest offers food, fun and entertainment

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A light rain fell on the evening of Nov. 2 at the 10th annual Swampfest at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, but that didn’t keep the mostly young festival crowd from turning out to enjoy the rides, games, food trucks and entertainment.

Danielle Loomis, of Land O ’ Lakes, comforts her 4-year-old son, Jacob, as they get situated on the Ferris wheel on the afternoon of Nov. 3, at the 10th annual Swampfest, as operator Jamie Kieffer secures the bar. (Randy Underhill)

JT Curtis and the Florida Scoundrels entertained the crowd from the Heritage Park stage.

Attendance swelled the following day, as the weather was sunny and breezy — simply perfect for a day at festival.

The event, hosted by the Land O’ Lakes High School Booster Club, raises money, which benefits all of the students at the high school. For instance, proceeds from previous festivals have been used to purchase equipment for the weight room.

Besides carnival rides and food, the festival offered face painting for kids, the Kim Fish Beer Garden for adults and the Future Farmers’ goat-petting area.

Entertainment on the main stage included Show on the Road of Tampa, a song and dance routine of elementary school kids, and the local band The Big Bong Theory. Performers scheduled for Nov. 4 included Nicole’s Dance Center, Karl & Dimarco Dance Studio, Suncoast Dance Academy, Beyond Chaotic, and Pine View Dance and Cheer.

The event attracted people of all ages, from across Tampa Bay.

By Randy Underhill

Published November 7, 2018

Rick Bartz, left, of Land O’ Lakes, and Mary Law, also of Land O’ Lakes, grab a bite to eat from German Alarcon, at one of the many food trucks, Nov. 2 at Swampfest.
Eight-year-old Dalilah Pyles, of South Tampa, tests her skills at climbing the rope ladder on the afternoon of Nov. 3, at Swampfest.
It’s all smiles aboard the Magic Dragon at the 10th annual Swampfest, at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park Nov. 1 through Nov. 4. The Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club hosted the event.
JT Curtis and Florida Scoundrels entertained the crowd the evening of Nov. 2 on the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park stage. JT Curtis is a singer/songwriter, and a Nashville recording artist, who performs throughout the United States.

LOL Swampfest returns with carnival fun

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The fall Swampfest will celebrate its 10th annual event at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., from Nov. 1 through Nov. 4.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club is hosting the event, and invites the public to come and enjoy the festivities.

Swampfest, from Nov. 1 to Nov. 4, will have 24 carnival rides for all ages to choose from at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. (File)

Twenty-four carnival rides will be set up on the premises by Arnold Amusements Inc.

A one-night armband for unlimited rides — for all ages — can be purchased online for $15, or at the fair for $25.

Pre-sale tickets can also be purchased at these Land O’ Lakes locations: Sanders Elementary School, 5126 School Road; Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkway Blvd.; and, Sugar and Spice Day Care, 3508 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

They can also be picked up at Beef O’ Brady’s at Wilderness Lakes, 7040 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., and the Lutz Beef O’ Brady’s at 18835 State Road 54.

Food vendors will be selling refreshments, and JT Curtis, The Big Bong Theory, and the Suncoast Dance Academy will be among the groups offering entertainment.

“I like the idea of having a place where everybody in the community can go have a little festival,” said Doug Hutchison, founder of Swampfest. “We try to make it a family-type affair.”

Proceeds benefit the Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Program.

Admission is free, however, there is a $5 parking fee. Only service pets are allowed on the premises.

For additional information, contact Doug Hutchinson at (813) 293-3684 or .

Swampfest
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
When: Nov. 1, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Nov. 2, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Nov. 3, noon to 11 p.m.; Nov. 4, noon to 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Four nights of carnival rides, games and live performances on the field of Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.
Info: Contact Doug Hutchinson at (813) 293-3684 or . To purchase armband tickets online, visit LOLSwampfest.com.

Published October 31, 2018

Heritage Stage is becoming a community gathering place

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Long before Heritage Stage existed, Sandy Graves envisioned a place where the community would gather, to watch performances and spend time together.

The stage was completed this fall and Graves’ vision has begun to take shape.

Recently, the stage was the centerpiece for an event to honor area veterans.

Live musical entertainment always plays a big role in the annual ‘Traditions on the Green’ event. This year, for the first time, the entertainers will have a stage for their performances at the event, set for Dec. 2, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (File)

Shortly after that, entertainers used it for performances during Land O’ Lakes SwampFest.

Next, the Land O’ Lakes High School Band, the Pine View Middle School Band, the Pine View Middle School Dance Team and the Lake Myrtle Elementary School Choir will provide a holiday concert during Traditions on the Green.

The free event, being held at the recently renamed Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., also will feature a visit from Santa, a tree lighting and a raffle on gift baskets, to raise money for the schools.

“We’ll have cookies and warm apple cider, until it runs out,” Graves said.

The event is set for Dec. 2, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks, to the evening of performances presented by the Heritage Park Foundation and the Wesley Noon Rotary Land O’ Lakes Satellite club.

Another event is planned for the afternoon of Dec. 10, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The event will include a food truck, a bounce house, a visit from Santa and, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet will perform “Holiday Pops” on the Heritage Park Stage.

Again, spectators are advised to bring a blanket or lawn chair, to sit back and enjoy some music presented by Heritage Park, Classical Preparatory School and several other sponsors.

Another event — the Land O’ Lakes Arts & Crafts & Seafood Festival, featuring The Battle of the Bands — is planned at the venue on Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Featured bands will be Priest, Rat Salad and Soul Circus Cowboys. And, there will be food, shopping and kids’ activities, as well.

The event is family and pet friendly, and proceeds will benefit Pasco County Animal Services.

Graves is delighted to see the stage being put to good use.  “We’re so excited,” she said.

Traditions on The Green
Where: The recently renamed Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
When: Dec. 2, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free
Details: The even features performances by local schools and a visit from Santa. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Published November 22, 2017

Land O’ Lakes SwampFest looks to take center stage

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When the dumpster arrives at Land O’ Lakes Community Park, that’s a sure sign that the carnival equipment to set up the Midway is soon to follow, according to Doug Hutchinson, coordinator for the Land O’ Lakes SwampFest.

SwampFest 2017 will feature a few new twists, according to Hutchinson, the longtime coordinator of the community fair.

First off, the event will be using Heritage Stage, the newly opened stage at Land O’ Lakes Community Park.

The Midway at Land O’ Lakes SwampFest will feature rides of all types, for children and adults, alike. (File)

“We’re pretty excited about that,” Hutchinson said, noting the ones who seem most delighted about the stage are the dance groups that will be performing on it.

“When I told them that we were going to be on the stage, not under a tent, they were all excited,” he said. “It’s so good for the community.”

The entertainment lineup for this year’s event includes Nunes at Night, on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. and 3-Dom Band, on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. On Nov. 12, there’s a larger slate of entertainers, with Nicole’s Dance Center at noon; Show on the Road at 1 p.m.; Beyond Chaotic at 2 p.m., and Suncoast Dance at 3 p.m.

The event also is adding some food trucks this year, in addition to the foods that can be purchased on the Midway, Hutchinson said. Otherwise, the rides and the food on the Midway will be similar to those at the event last year.

There are also plans for a beer garden, Hutchinson said, but added that he was awaiting official approval.

Armbands for unlimited rides will be sold in advance for $15 and at the Midway for $25, Hutchinson said. Parking is free on Nov. 9, the preview night, and $5 on other days of the festival.

The event is getting more popular every year, Hutchinson said, noting it tends to attract between 500 and 750 people on Friday night and Sunday, and about 2,000 on Saturday.

On Saturdays, families generally come during the day, with a younger crowd at night, he said.

SwampFest started out as a community carnival, then evolved into the Flapjack Festival, which eventually moved to Dade City and then died.

This event is smaller than Flapjack was and that’s what organizers want it to be, Hutchinson said. “We want it to be more of a community fair.”

Proceeds from SwampFest benefit the venues that help sell the tickets and Land O’ Lakes High School’s athletic booster club, where they benefit the whole school.

“We don’t want to build something for one team and use all of the money for that,” Hutchinson said. “It’s better to use that money for items that benefit everyone.”

For instance, for a few years in a row, SwampFest proceeds were used to purchase equipment for the weight room, he said.

That benefits all students, not just athletes, he said. “They have a weightlifting class.”

Event proceeds also paid for the high school’s sign, which is out near Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41.

“It takes some really dedicated people to pull this thing off,” Hutchinson said, noting there’s about eight or 10, who really do a lot of the work.

“It takes months to put it together,” he said, and then, at the event, there are scores of volunteers who help with parking, garbage collection and other chores.

Land O’ Lakes SwampFest
Where: Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
When: Nov. 9, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Nov. 10, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Nov. 11, noon to 11 p.m.; and Nov. 12, noon to 6 p.m.
Cost: Parking free on Nov. 9; $5 on Nov. 10 through Nov. 12. Armbands for unlimited rides are available for $25 each at the Midway; $15 each, in advance. They are available on the SwampFest website and at Land O’ Lakes High School, Sanders Elementary School, Pine View Middle School, Sugar and Spice Learning Center, and at the Village Lakes Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Wilderness Lakes Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and Sunlake Beef O’ Brady’s.
Details: Rides, games, food, live entertainment.
Info: LOLSwampFest.com

Published November 8, 2017

SwampFest gearing up for community-based fair

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SwampFest, hosted by the Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club, gives kids and adults a chance to have fun — but also helps raise money to benefit the high school and other local organizations.

This year, the event will feature a new carnival company, said Doug Hutchinson, SwampFest coordinator.

SwampFest will feature 24 rides, a magic act, bands, a DJ, other entertainers, food and carnival games. It’s a local event that offers fun for people of all ages, said Doug Hutchinson, SwampFest coordinator. (File Photo)
SwampFest will feature 24 rides, a magic act, bands, a DJ, other entertainers, food and carnival games. It’s a local event that offers fun for people of all ages, said Doug Hutchinson, SwampFest coordinator.
(File Photos)

“It’s going to be Arnold Amusements. They’re a family oriented, family owned, carnival company. Right now, they’re doing the Hillsborough County Fair down in Brandon,” Hutchinson said.

“Last year, we had a little disappointment because the operator that brought the rides, brought just the rides. We didn’t really have a full complement of games … where it makes it more like a fair,” Hutchinson said.

Arnold Amusements will bring a full Midway, with games, rides and amusements.

The event will last four nights, from Nov. 3 through Nov. 6. Highlights include 24 rides, a magic act, and performances by Stonegrey, Vincent Randazzo, Nunes at Night, DJ Carlos, Nicole’s Dance Center, Show on the Road Tampa and Suncoast Dance.

Hutchinson said the organizers talked to teenagers to find out what they’d like, and they suggested a DJ because they want to dance, Hutchinson said.

The event will be at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

SwampFest is an offshoot from Flapjack Festival, a popular Land O’ Lakes event that shifted to Dade City, and then was suspended.

After the Flapjack Festival moved, a group got together to organize SwampFest, said Hutchinson, who was the coordinator for the Flapjack Festival in Land O’ Lakes.

Tickets for Midway rides will be sold individually, or event-goers can purchase armbands for unlimited rides.
Tickets for Midway rides will be sold individually, or event-goers can purchase armbands for unlimited rides.

“We started having it the same weekend as Flapjack used to be. It’s not as big. Our goal is to try to make it more of a community-based fair,” he said.

The event raises money for the Land O’ Lakes High School Booster club, but it also raises money for other groups who sell pre-sale tickets.

Pre-sale armband tickets for unlimited rides are $15 each. On-site armband ride tickets are $25.

Locations selling the pre-sale tickets are: Land O’ Lakes High School cheerleaders, Sunlake High School (guidance office), Sanders Elementary School, Pine View Middle School, Sugar and Spice Daycare and Beef O’ Brady’s at Village Lakes, Wilderness Lakes and Sunlake.

The event has free admission, and generally attracts between 2,000 and 3,000 people, Hutchinson said.

This will be the second year that the event will be at the upgraded Land O’ Lakes Community Center Park.

Hutchinson can’t wait until the park gets its stage, which will be in time for next year’s SwampFest.

“It’s not easy getting some of the entertainment to come out there and play under a tent,” he said. With the stage, it will be easier to persuade musicians to come out to play.

The event was initially held at Land O’ Lakes High, but the community park offers a greater degree of visibility, creating a better opportunity to attract people who are traveling past the event, he said.

Proceeds from SwampFest are used by the booster club to benefit students at Land O’ Lakes High.

“For the first five years, we put pretty much all of our money that we made off of SwampFest into upgrading the weight room,” Hutchinson said.

The boosters also paid for the school’s blue and gold marquee sign.

“That’s a nice sign, and it was definitely overdue,” he said, estimating its cost at about $12,000.

The event is now in its seventh year, having skipped one year because of construction at the park.

It’s the kind of event that brings people together, Hutchinson said.

“The year that we didn’t have it, everybody was complaining because that’s kind of their annual alumni get-together,” he said.

For more information about SwampFest, visit LOLSwampFest.com.

SwampFest
What: A community festival featuring games, rides, entertainment and food
Where: Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
When: Nov. 3 through Nov. 6 (See LOLSwampFest.com for more details)
How much: Free admission; pre-sale unlimited ride armbands, $15; on-site unlimited ride armbands, $25.

Published November 2, 2016

 

Renovations wrapping up at Land O’ Lakes Community Park

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The $2.4 million renovation project at Land O’ Lakes Community Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., is just about completed. It features new fields, a playground, a concession stand and restrooms. There’s even a walking trail for walkers and joggers that goes around the park.

But there’s another improvement that gets Mike Walcott, a recreation supervisor for Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, really excited.

The parking.

A proposed stage where special events can be held would cost $150,000 or more, but would create a permanent platform for community productions and performances. (Image courtesy of Heritage Park Foundation)
A proposed stage where special events can be held would cost $150,000 or more, but would create a permanent platform for community productions and performances.
(Image courtesy of Heritage Park Foundation)

“I think the thing a lot of people are going to like is the paved parking,” Walcott said. “Because when you park in a dirt lot in the middle of July and you have those storms come rolling though, it creates a mess.”

Walcott has endured the mess associated with dirt lots long enough to know how bad it can be. He’s been with the county parks department for 15 years, with about eight of them at Land O’ Lakes Community Park.

Small improvements can make a big difference, and they can enhance the experience of visiting the park.

And, with all the bigger improvements ready to be unveiled to the public, he expects a lot more visitors in the future.

The improved fields are good for the park’s existing users like their adult softball league and Police Athletic League youth football. The latter will now have their home games at the park, instead of just using it as a practice facility.

In addition, the park now has a special event area that will be a gathering place for a variety of community events. Walcott sees movies in the park, a farmer’s market and company picnics as just some of the possible uses.

The annual Swampfest event, which was canceled last year due to a conflict with the park’s renovation schedule, is also back on for this November.

And with a potential addition in the future, the possibilities are even greater.

“We’re looking forward to possibly a stage being put out into the park, so we’ll be able to do concerts,” Walcott said.

That project is being spearheaded by the Heritage Park Foundation. And the group’s president, Sandy Graves, believes it would be an artistic feather in the park’s cap.

“I think it will complete that park,” Graves said.

The plan includes a structure that takes up around 2,000 square feet with a back room, electrical hookup and wide steps for people to bring up instruments or other bulky equipment.

The foundation would like to collaborate with local government to help raise funds for the project, which could exceed $150,000. For now, foundation members are raising money on their own, as they try to find a government partnership that works for everybody.

While the park will continue to thrive as a destination for local teams, Graves sees more opportunities for the park as a local hub of community activity.

“Sports is just one facet,” she said. “I think it’s good for the community to have a central gathering space where it can have the festivals that bring a community together.”

Meanwhile, the Land O’ Lakes Community Park is taking advantage of another construction project to enhance users’ experience. When Sanders Memorial Elementary School reopens later this year as the county’s first STEAM magnet school, its proximity to the park invites a natural sharing of facilities. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

They’ll be able to share event space, parking, basketball courts and other facilities.

That collaboration, as well as the existing renovations and potential future improvements, means the park will continue to maximize its resources. At just 16 acres, it’s not a large park, but the new layout will use the area efficiently.

“I think they came up with a great multi-use community park,” Walcott said. “As far as the size that we have here, I think everyone’s going to get something out of it.”

For now, it seems like everyone wants to hear about its progress. Walcott gets residents coming by every day asking about project updates and wanting to see how things are going. And he’s pleased to report that some facets of the park will be available within the next couple of weeks, and the fields are being prepared for use in the coming months. Soon residents will be able to enjoy the new amenities, like the walking trail, concession stand and event area.

And the parking, of course.

“It sounds ridiculous that I keep going back to the paved parking. But oh my goodness, that was the biggest thing. Just getting stuck in the mud,” Walcott said. “I know when people come out here and get a good look at the place, they’re really going to like it. They’re really going to enjoy being out here.”

Published June 10, 2015